Bill > H5302

This bill, titled "Helping employees after a relative’s tragedy," proposes to amend Massachusetts General Laws by inserting a new section that grants employees up to 10 business days of paid bereavement leave per calendar year following the death of a family member, which is broadly defined to include children, parents, siblings, spouses, grandparents, grandchildren, domestic partners, and individuals with whom the employee has a significant personal bond. This leave can be used for funeral arrangements, attending services, or grieving, and must generally be taken within 30 days of the death, though for the death of a child, it can be taken within 12 months. The leave will be paid at the employee's regular rate of pay, and employment benefits will continue to accrue, with part-time employees' pay calculated based on their average hours. Employees are entitled to be restored to their previous or an equivalent position after taking leave, and employers can request reasonable documentation of the death. This provision does not override more generous leave policies in existing contracts or agreements, and employers with fewer than 25 employees are exempt. Employers will be required to inform employees of these new rights in writing and through employee handbooks. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5302